Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-03-10
LADIES OF THE ARMY.
Glimpse of Home Life and Social Posi-.
bilities OH the Frontier.


Those who have read Mrs. Custer's
entertaining book may recall that she
| finds occasion to comment upon the
ignorance of the majority of people in
civil life regarding army life on the
frontier, and this ignorance is possibly
even more conspicuous to-day, when
there is little to attract the attention to
our distant garrisons, than at the active
period of which she writes.
In view of the fact. that the best
social circles Of the .East-from the
capital to the edge of the Territories
are constantly giving in marriage their
most accomplished daughters to preside
over these frontier homes it seems par
ticularly surprising that so little should
be known of that same home life. That
the social amenities and graces should
penetrate and be in daily exercise be-
yond the line of railroad seems incredi-
BILE; and that dainty furnishings and
bric-a-brac should find place within
the modest dwellings still more aston
ishing,
Let one imagine himself, or herself
for the girlish heart has ever weak
ness for brass buttons after several
days journey, exchanging the comfort
able sleeper for stage or ambulance,
and starting forth, perhaps in foggy
drizzle that chills the flesh in spite OF
wraps and rugs, to ride many miles
over the prairies; stopping to dine at
ranch houses along the way, possibly
spending the night at one; and awaken
ing for an early start finds the sun
shining with an intensity of heat al
most as disagreeable as the previous,
cold Mile after mile of sage-brush and
endless climbing "to the top of the
next rise," only to find still another
"rise" just beyond, until at length the
traveller, disheartened, sunburnt, weary
and blinded by alkaline dust, is told
'There is the post" and look
ing ahead, beholds group of
one-storied frame houses, barracks
along the open space in front, the
post traders low-roofed store, and
few other buildings devoted to various
other purposes somewhere close by.
Add'to this picture group of blanket
wrapped Indians, and then laugh to
scorn him who asserts that in weeks
time you will have discovered a pc
culiar fascination in the surroundings
and distinct charm in the sense of
freedom from all that is conventional,
bon camaraderie, and absence of all
care for the morrow. Many of the
homes, containing possibly but seven
or eight rooms, and made comfortable
and pretty with handsome draperies,
rugs, pictures and ornaments; while
books and magazines litter the tables,
and almost invariably along one side
of the parlor is piano Even the
bachelors as q rule fake great pride in
their quarters, and many are the pref
ty bits of fancy work that come to
them from lady friends to brighten
walls and furniture.
Competent servants are procured
from the East, and both kitchen and
dining-room are well-ordered and we'll
served. True, there may be a time in
the year when in default of other meat
beef appears upon the board rather
more frequently than can be relished;
but then the army housewives ingenu-
ity comes to the fore and such mystic
rious and toothsome dishes are con-
cocted as canned goods were nev-
er known to suggest to communi-
ties which lie nearer markets. Then
the late breakfasts and five o clock dim
ners, for which some one is very apt to
drop in, and the cozy suppers with the
few particularly congenial friendsl
And if any unusual luxury falls to the
lot of one the rest of that table
set are sure to come in for share
of it, as Mrs. Custer relates of her
Strawberries. AT intervals some one
entertains with all the courses and
ceremony of fashionable dinner OF
breakfast, and, though the chairs
which the guests sit upon may not all
be of pattern, and the dainty pieces
of china be supplemented by Others
which have seen long and faithful serv.
ice, it matters not; the flowers and
fruit are there, and, what is better, q
congenial company. And during that
mauUaise quatre d'heure in which the
gentlemen are left to their cigars, and
!, the ladies hear of the latest cook who
is about to marry some sergeant and
, desert her despairing mistress to set ur
housekeeping in laundresses' row, the
hostess is quite likely to be compli.
mented upon the success of her dinner
|. while her next intimate friend whispers
that the plum-pudding glace was quite
the most delicious thing possible.
OF course, where improvidence ha:
a left the purse strings open, or children
| have come far more rapidly than pro
motion, the homes are of necessity very
plain, luxury absent and the menagc
7 very simple. But all alike enjoy tn,
long pleasant days, the friendly drop
: ping in and out, the card parties, hops
germans-for which favors are ordered
from some Eastern city-picnics, fan
tom parties and theatricals. The off
GERS, as a rule, are considerate, well
|, bred and agreeable, and, as friends ol
q husbands, chivalrous and attentive
And, taken ali in all. even with tn,
isolation and other trials, the lives o
q the women of the army are very happ,
, ones, with less care and closer domes
tic relationship than the majority o
their sisters in civil life can boast
Cor. Chicago Tribune.
The new editor of the Brooklyn
T-oso., Major r papa hos navar haar